Hardhead Sea Catfish: A Devoted Father

Hardhead Sea Catfish: A Devoted Father

Hardhead sea Catfish:

The hardhead catfish (Ariopsis felis) is a species of sea catfish from the northwest Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, and similar to the gafftopsail catfish (Bagre marinus). It is one of four species in the genus Ariopsis. The common name, is derived from the presence of a hard, bony plate extending rearward toward the dorsal fin from a line between the catfish’s eyes.It is an elongate marine catfish that reaches up to 28 in (70 cm) in length and 12 lb (5.5 kg) in weight. The average weight is less than 1 lb (450 g), but they commonly reach up to 3 lb (1.4 kg). They are often a dirty gray color on top, with white undersides.

As a Devoted Father:

If you think, you are a devoted father then just look at “The Hardhead Sea Catfish”. After spawning, the male sea catfish carry the eggs in his mouth until they hatched. Is it not amazing?

Yes it is!

The offspring s hatch in about 30 days in his mouth.

When offsprings grow to a suitable size for solitary life, they are set free from the mouth.

During this incubation period, the male cat fish can’t eat because he can’t swallow his meal due to eggs in his mouth.

To be alive, he swallow some non-functional eggs and some of his offspring frys.

There are many advantages to mouthbrooding as opposed to other forms of parental care, such as bubblenesting. Mouth Breeders are able to freely move with the eggs in their mouth, and thus, can move as necessary to protect both himself and the brood. Even though mouthbrooding requires more energy by the male, there is also a greater chance of his young surviving to adulthood, and therefore, reproducing and continuing his genes; the eggs are not defenseless while in their father’s mouth.Mouth brooding by males counters the relatively low fecundity of females, who only have 20-65 eggs per spawning episode. Finally, through breathing, the male is able to keep the brood well oxygenated, which also increases brood survival.